Osteopathic device



July 21, 1942. I, w, 'COLLINS 2,290,407

OSTEOPATHIG DEVICE.

Filed March 2 1, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet .1.

Patented July 21, 1942 u NIT ED STAT ES 2,290,407

O'STEOPATHIO DEVICE Ira W. Collins, Los' Angeles, Calif.

Application March 24, 1941, Serial N 0. 384,874

8 Claims. 01. 128-48) The invention relates to an osteopathic device for alternately flexing the spine of a patient in opposite directions; The purpose of this will be better understood by first considering the nervous system of the human body.

Generally speaking, the nervous system of'the human body comprises the; cerebro-spinal system having the spinal cord from which lead, through segments of" the spinal column, the anteriorroots terminating in motor nerves and the posterior rootsterminatinginsensory nerves. The posterior rootshave ganglia from which originate theinterdependent sympathetic nerve system which controls the reflexesincluding the blood vessels, the plain musclefibers, and the action of secretory and excretory glands. The splanchnic-nerves which control certain organs such'as stomach, kidney, etc. and which are connected to nerves emerging from the-spinal cord from the6thto the 11th-dorsal segments are of particular importance, not onlybecause many ailments are due to mal-functioning-of such organs but also because the splanchnic nerves control asystem' of bloodvessels whose combined capacity is equal to the entire'amount of the blood in the body. The spaces between thespinal segments; therefore, comprise passages I through which lead nerves controlling the motor, sensory, and reflex actions of the body, and if for any organic'or other reason these nerves. are diseased or if the segmental passages'become constricted, the normal functioning of themotor, sensory' and reflex action is impaired.

The invention provides means for laterally flexing the spine of a patient, first in one directionand then in the other. In this way, the segments are caused-to spread out fanwise first in one direction and then in the. other, thereby effecting a jaw-like movement' of' adjacent segments and producing a pumping action in theintersegmental space, thereby restoring activity of the nervous system. This invention might be called a spinal feeder and'relaxer in that by laterally flexing the spine, 1' cause theprotective eyelets or sinovial membranes over the gangliato relax and expand to control the inflow and outflow of motor force and sensations through the nerves. Also, in case constriction of the intersegmental space is due to dislocation or contraction of a-muscle; the lateral flexing of the spine is beneficial in exercising the muscles of the back to assist the oil-normal muscle to reach a normal condition tor'elieve the strain it imposes, and perhaps also to assist'a slight rotated or'tilted segment toflnd its normal posi- ATENT OFFICE.

tion. Preferably this flexing is accomplished while supporting the patient in a relaxedposition by rolling .the torso of the patient fromside to side, whereby a slight turning movement as well as bending movement isimparted tothe:

spine.

An object of the present invention is to pro-- vide a mechanical device for laterally flexing the spine in opposite directions, preferably while. imparting a slight turn-ing movement to the body. Preferably, this flexingiseffected (l) at aspeed. (2) to an extent, and (3) in a spinal region, all of which may be varied to suit conditions.

Another object of the-invention is to'use the spinalflexing devicein conjunction with other devices for effecting supplementary treatment.

For further details of the invention reference may be made to the drawings wherein Fig. 1 is aperspective view of an osteopathic device according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation, with certain partsbroken away, of a device which" may be used in connection with the device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section throughthedevice of Fig. l, and also-showing in'vertical elevation a supplementary supportfor a patient.

Fig. 4 is a vertical-sectional view on line 4+4 of Fig. 3.

Referring tothe drawings, the osteopathic device of this invention comprises a bed I having a headrest 2. an oscillating torso support or saddle 3 and-a hip rest 4; which are adapted tosupport the patient in a relaxed prone position either face up or face down. The bed I comprises a framework 5- of angle iron supportedby suitable legs-such as 6, I, 8 and 9. Framework 5 supports a mattress ID.

The head rest 2 comprises a horizontal pad- II- and side pads l2 and I3. Pad H is mounted loosely on the rods l4 and |-5,. while the pads l2 and [3 are secured to those rods. The rods l4 and i5 are supported by a bracket I 6 having a clamp piece I! which permits lengthwise adjustment of the rods l4 and I5: in the bracket l6 and which also permits clamping those rods in their adjusted lengthwise position. Bracket 16 is supported by standards. l8 and I9 which may be adjustedvertically andretained in adjusted position by means of wing nut 20 operating on clamp bar 2| which frictionally holds the standards l8- and Hi to the bracket 22 suitably secured to the head of the frame 5. Side piece 12 is fixed on rod l5 and side piece I3 is fixed on rod 14, these rods being rotatably carried by bracket l6 and being adiustably clamped in a suitable position by means of the wing nut 23 operating in slots 24 and 25 in the overlapping cranks 26 and 21 which depend from the rods l4 and 15 respectively. By the means just described, the head rest 2 may be adjusted to proper position with respect to the oscillating rest 3 and hip rest 4, to support the patient in a prone position when face up. When face down, the head rest 2 is not used, the patients arms resting on the saddle 3.

The hip rest 4 comprises a base 28 which extends across and rests on the top of frame 5. Base 28 is slidable lengthwise of bed I into proper position and it is prevented from moving laterally oil of the bed and from tilting up off the bed by means of four legs such as 29 which slidably engage the outside of frame 5. The front legs 29 have internal hook ends 39 to prevent the base 28 from moving upwardly, while the back legs 29 have no such hook ends to permit raising base 28 to slide it beyond post 54. Suitably fastened to base 28 by means not shown, is a bottom pad or rest 3| to which are hinged side pads 32 and 33. Pad 32 is connected to rest 3| by hinges such as 34 and it may be secured in adjusted angular position by a suitable adjustable clamp 35 carried by the base 28 for clamping rod 36 which is hinged to the back of pad 32 as shown at 31.

The saddle 3 is adapted to support a portion only of the torso of a patient and it may for example be about 12 inches long in a direction lengthwise of bed I. The saddle 3 comprises an upwardly facing semi-circular base 38 mounted on opposite sides of a pair of trunnion supports, one of which is. trunnion 39, for rotation about an axis lengthwise of the bed I and substantially in vertical alignment with the center of the head rest 2 and the center of hip rest 4. Inside of each end of base 38 and at the center thereof, I provide suitable cushion supports 40, 4| and 42. If desired, each of these cushion supports such as 40 may comprise a pair of inflated rubber balls in position as shown by the bulges 43 and 44, and covered and held in position by a flexible covering 45 of rubber suitably secured to the ends of base 38 as shown at 46. Base 38, for each ball in the cushion 49-42 has a concave depression as indicated at 55 for centering the ball. Similar to the cushion support 46 inside of the saddle 3, I provide cushion members 41 and 48 laterally extending from the side of base 38 to treat the back of a patient supported by the chair 49 shown at Fig. 3. Chair 49 comprises a frame 53 having a hook adapted to overlie the edge of the bed frame 5 in, order to keep the chair 49 from sliding away from the cushion members 41 and 48.

In order to provide a guard to prevent a patient from sticking his hands or arm underneath the saddle 3, I secure to the end thereof which faces the end of the bed, a guard plate 52 which operates in a slot 53 in the bed I.

With a head rest 2 not in use, and while a patient is resting face down with his arms on saddle 3 whereby the back is uppermost and rocked back and forth, I provide a cushion device 55 like 46 to 42, as shown in Fig. 2 for frictionally engaging the back of the patient as he is rocked back and forth on the saddle 3. Thus the ribs may be flexed and relaxed to flex the ribs, to relax and expand the eyelets surrounding the nerves at their exit from the spine. Cushion 55" is mounted on a rod 56 having a handle 51'. The rod 5'5 as shown in Fig. 1 is rotatably mounted by a collar 51 on a cross-bar 58 supported by uprights 54 and 59 at the back of the bed I. The collar 51 may have a set screw 69 to retain the handle 56 upright when not in use, although stops GI and 62 on the cross bar 58 may be used to restrict the sliding movement of collar 51 on cross bar 58. When the patient is rocked or rolled back and forth on saddle 3 as above described, the operator may move the bar 56 to bring the cushion 55 into contact with the back of the patient with an adjustable amount of pressure depending upon the manual force applied to the handle 51'.

The saddle 3 is rocked back and forth by mechanism contained in a compartment 63 mounted below the bed I and resting on the floor. The front of compartment 63 has a starting switch 64 and a control handle 65 for varying the speed of the saddle 53 from about 40 to '75 oscillations per minute, although other speeds may be used. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, compartment 63 houses a motor 66 which is controlled by the starting switch 64. Motor 66 is connected by a belt '61 to a variable speed changer 68 which is connected by belt 69 to speed reducing device 10 having a crank 'H which operates a connecting rod 12 which is adjustably connected at its upper end to a plate 13 carried on the underside of saddle 3.

The speed changer 68 comprises a frame 14 which rotatably carries three pulleys 15, 16, and 11, the middle pulley 16 being slidable on its axis and being interlocked to rotate with the two outside pulleys by means of projections such as 18 and 19 as is well known. The frame 14 is pivoted at its lower end at and its upper end carries a nut 8| in threaded engagement with a screw 82 which terminates in the control handle 65. By rotating the handle 65 in one direction or the other, the frame 14 is pivotally moved about axis 80 to lengthen one of the belts and shorten the other one, to change the speed ratio between the belts 61 and 69. For example when frame 14 is moved to the left, as seen in Fig. 3, the tension is increased in belt 61, and this tension relieves itself through belt 61 sliding inwards to aposition of smaller diameter on the pulleys TI and 16, urging the latter to the left as seen in Fig. 4 so that pulleys 16 and T5 are now closer together to frictionally engage belt 69 on which tension has been relieved by movement of frame 14 to the left, belt 69"-hence seeking a position of greater diameter on the pulleys l5 and 16. The reverse action takes place when frame 14 is moved in the other direction, the belt which is tightened seeking a position of smaller diameter and urging the pulley I6 sideways, while the other pulley seeks a position of larger diameter.

The crank H is connected to the connecting rod 12 through a swivel or universal joint indicated at 83. The upper end of connecting rod 12 is connected through a swivel or universal joint indicated at 64 to a sleeve 84 rotatable on bolt 85 in threaded engagement with a screw 86 having a handle 81 which may be rotated to vary the radius arm of the upper end of connecting rod 12 and thereby vary the throw of the saddle 3. Bolt 85 is mounted to slide in a slot 88 in the plate 13 and may be secured in its adjusted position in that slot by means of a clamping nut 89 having a lock pin or nut if desired. The end of screw 86 is rotatably carried in a slot 91 in a plate 92 which extends at right angles to the plate 13.

Various modifications maybe mad in the invention without departing from the spirit of the claims.

One purpose of the air balls in the cushions 40, 51, 42, d3, 48 is to restore posterior lesions. The moving saddle 3 is elevated above the hip rest 4 to not only rotate the body but to flex a particular vertebra of the spine in both cases back to its normal position with respect to the vertebra above and below it. This result is most important in treating lesions. The air balls in the cushions 4042, 47, 4.8 produce a positive flexing of the body by supporting and rocking the body so that the force employed to flex the muscles is due to the weight of the human body itself, thereby obtaining the desired force in a more positive manner than could be obtained by the usual normal manipulation.

I claim:

1. An osteopathic device comprising the combination of a bed, a torso support on said bed, means supporting said torso support for oscillating movement about an axis lengthwise of said bed beneath said support, means for imparting rocking movement to said torso support, a cooperating hip support slidable on said bed, and adjustable side pieces on said hip support, said torso support being adapted to tilt the upper portion of the bodyof the patient to opposite sides of said axis while the lower portion of the body of the patient is restrained by said hip support.

2. An osteopathic device comprising the combination of a bed, an upwardly facing concave torso support on said bed, said torso support being short enough to embrace only a portion of the torso of a patient, a bearing on said bed beneath the center of said support for supporting said torso support for tilting movement about an axis lengthwise of said bed, a motor beneath said bed, a crank for said motor, a connecting rod extending through said bed and connecting said crank and said torso support, and means for varying the effective length of said connecting rod to vary the throw of said torso support.

3. An osteopathic device comprising the combination of a bed, a saddle, means supporting said saddle for pivotal movement about an axis lengthwise of said bed, a rotatable screw connected to said saddle at one side of said axis, a handle for said screw, a traveling nut on said screw, a connecting rod having one end thereof connected to said nut, a slot in said bed through which said connecting rod projects, a motor, a speed changing device and a speed reducing device arranged below said bed, a belt connecting said motor and said speed changing device, a belt connecting said speed changing device and said speed reducing device, means comprising a handle at the side of said bed for operating said speed changing device, a crank on said speed reducing device, and a connection between said crank and the other end of said connecting rod, said saddle comprising means adapted to support one portion of the body of the patient for tilting movement to flex the spine, and cooperating means on said bed for supporting and restraining movement of another portion of the body of the patient.

4. An osteopathic device comprising a bed, said bed comprising stationary means for supporting and restraining movement of the lower portion of the body of a patient, and rocking means for rocking the upper portion of the body of the patient, said rocking means comprising the combination of a saddle, means supporting said saddle for pivotal movement about one axis only, namely an axis lengthwise of said bed, a connecting rod connected to said saddle at one side of said axis, means for varying the point of connection of said connecting rod to said saddle to vary the throw of said saddle, a crank connected to the other end of said connecting rod, means for driving said crank, and means for varying the speed of said crank to vary the speed of said saddle.

5. An osteopathic bed comprising power driven means for laterally flexing the spine of a patient in opposite directions from normal, and a cooperating manually operable cushion device mounted adjacent said bed and movable to a position to flex the ribs of the patient while the spine of the patient is being flexed by said power driven means.

6. An osteopathic device comprising the combination of a bed, a head rest, means supporting said head rest for adjustment lengthwise of said bed, a torso support on said bed, means supporting said torso support for oscillating movement about an axis lengthwise of said bed beneath said support, means for imparting rocking movement to said torso support, a cooperating hip support slidable lengthwise of said bed, and upwardly extending side pieces on said hip support, said torso support being adapted to tilt the upper portion of the body of the patient to opposite sides of said axis while the head and lower portion of the body of the patient are supported by said head rest and hip support, respectively.

7. An osteopathic device comprising the combination of a bed, a torso support on said bed, said torso support comprising an upwardly facing semi-circular member having air balls mounted on its inner face adjacent the ends of said member, means supporting said torso support for oscillating movement about an axis lengthwise of said bed beneath said support, means for imparting rocking movement to said torso support, a cooperating hip support slidable lengthwise of said bed, and upwardly extending side pieces on said hip support, said torso support being adapted to tilt the upper portion of the body of the patient to opposite sides of said axis while the lower portion of the body of the patient is supported by said hip support.

8. An osteopathic device comprising the combination of a bed, to torso support on said bed, said torso support comprising an upwardly facing concave member having a cushion on its inner face, means supporting said torso support for oscillating movement about an axis lengthwise of said bed beneath said support, means for imparting rocking movement to said torso support, a cooperating hip support slidable lengthwise of said bed, upwardly extending side pieces on said hip support, said torso support being adapted to tilt the upper portion of the body of the patient to opposite sides of said axis while the lower portion of the body of the patient is restrained by said hip support, a cross bar mounted at one side of said bed above the same and extending lengthwise of the bed, a manually operable rod, a cushion on said rod, means slidably and pivotally supporting said rod on said cross bar whereby said cushion device is movable to positions above and adjacent said torso support.

IRA W. COLLINS. 

